Faith and science can work together to motivate people to make environmentally-minded decisions and to give meaning to those choices. That was the overriding message from the Interfaith Climate Change Conference in Jerusalem, which was co-sponsored by the Interfaith Center for Sustainable Development, the Arava Institute, the Swedish Theological Society, and the Tantur Ecumenical Institute. Last Wednesday, eight Arava students and alumni attended the conference to hear about the scientific and humanitarian imperative for environmental progress in the region, as well as the religious teachings that impel our collective action.
Dr. Pinchas Alpert, a leading climate scientist in Israel, explained the scientific perspective on climate change and its impact in the Middle East. Jerusalem has a unique ratio of rainfall and sunshine—as much rain as London, but far more sun. Yet rainfall rates are falling while the frequency of dust storms and freak weather events is rising. Research shows that the Middle East’s Fertile Crescent may even dry up by 2100. Dr. Alon Tal, the Chair of the Department of Public Policy at Tel Aviv University, presented climate change as a struggle with our values. If all people in the world consumed as much as the average Israeli, we would need two planets to provide enough resources. Moving forward, we need to make sacrifices, yet faith can give meaning to the sacrifices that we will need to make.
In addition to making sacrifices in our lives, we can have an impact through collective action and innovation. Dr. Tareq AbuHamed, the Academic Director and Director of the Center for Renewable Energy and Energy Conservation, gave everyone at the conference a reason to hope: 70% of energy in the Eilat and the southern Arava region of Israel is produced from solar energy, and this may reach 100% by 2020. The Arava Institute also is conducting research on innovative solar energy projects and is helping facilitate transboundary environmental projects with partners in the region.
We also can look to our religious teachings for guidance. Archbishop Pizzaballa explained that in the Bible, man is dominant, though man should live in harmony with G-d’s creation. Renewable energy addresses both teachings: renewable energy provides the energy needed by humans while it is harmonious with nature. Jewish sages taught that it is preferable for water to come from heaven rather than the Earth, so one person cannot dominate the resource and so we can all turn our eyes to heaven. Rabbi Sinclair discussed how we can apply this idea to our energy. Renewable energy, which is environmentally sustainable, comes from heaven (the sun and wind), while fossil fuels come from the Earth.
We can also look at religious teachings more broadly. According to Yasmin Barhum, in Islam, humans are the only part of creation with a choice in our decisions and our lifestyles. We are on Earth because of G-d’s generosity, and life is a test. We should concentrate on being happy with what we have; materialism should not become a form of worship.
My personal values and passion to address the world’s environmental problems stem from the Jewish belief of Tikkun Olam, repairing the world. The conference sparked my interest in learning more about the religious connection to environmental preservation, while it also made me think more deeply about how to connect religious communities, such as evangelical Christians, to this important cause that will require universal action. Ultimately, religious leaders and scientists can learn from each other. Scientists can inform religious leaders, while religious leaders can encourage people to make ethical choices.
No matter our religious beliefs, we have a shared responsibility to care for the Earth and confront the climate change challenge together. As Gershon Baskin said at the conclusion to the conference: “We have a responsibility to each other since our lives depend on it.”
Above is me at Temple Mount/Dome of the Rock Plaza. I finally visited after all of this time in Israel.